Should Christians Date Online?Sample

Dating Effectively

Premarital counseling is very important for successful marriages. Every couple needs to seek such counseling in person—whether they meet online or have known each other since childhood. Here are some guidelines on how a couple can find good premarital counseling. 

First, premarital counseling must be done by a pastor, a Christian counselor, or a spiritual mentor. This person must love the Lord and love both individuals. This person also needs to have the Word of God in hand. Such counselor must have spiritual wisdom due to years of walking in Christ. In addition, this person must have a long-term, proven marriage. He or she needs to understand the conflicts and difficulties that are involved in any marital relationship and be able to equip the young couple with ways to resolve them. 

Second, the couple should know the person well or they should both be comfortable with this individual. It can be one of their pastors or a spiritual mentor they both get to know. They can even seek professional counseling; however, it is imperative that such counseling is grounded in the Word of God. If the couple does not have someone they both agree on, they can ask for advice or referrals from trusted friends or a local church.

Third, a good counselor needs to come in from the outside and probe the relationship effectively. An effective counselor will ask the couple some difficult questions forcing them to look at the hard issues that they need to think about. A good premarital counselor will press the couple to go deeper and look further than they themselves would have thought. Such counseling is extremely important. It is crucial for a successful marital relationship. 

Whether the couple grows up in the same local church or meets over the internet, they can be successful in their relationship if they build it right. Proper intentions and proper guidance are crucial for a successful dating relationship. The more work you put into premarital counseling and getting to know each other before marriage, the better your life together will be. Everyone who wants a happily ever after can have it. The key is to meet a godly person and date this individual in a godly manner. 

This devotional was based on an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. Consider subscribing to the Straight Truth Podcast YouTube Channel , we release new episodes every Thursday.